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Hosted by Jeffrey Bellomo, Esq., CELA, LLM, and over 20 years of experience practicing in estate planning.  We’ll discuss all things Estate Planning and Law.  Our mission is to help educate so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to you. We hope to answer your most burning questions and support you with a solution to estate planning that works for you and your loved ones.

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  2. Costly Mistakes: How a Simple Will Can Fail Your Family

Costly Mistakes: How a Simple Will Can Fail Your Family

May 21, 2026

The idea of a “simple Will” sounds great. It seems inexpensive and easy, until real life exposes the limits of a Will. So, drawing on his vast experience, Jeffrey Bellomo explains why relying on a simple Will can leave a family vulnerable to taxes, probate costs, creditor claims, and unintended outcomes. 

Effective estate planning is more than just a Will or a couple of quick documents pulled off the Internet. It’s about coordination, protection, and most of all, long-term strategy. Trusts are a smart, flexible alternative that offer control of assets during life, protection after death, and safeguards for your family.

Check out Jeff’s book, A Fork in the Road: Modern Estate Planning Takes the Other Fork, and attend our free workshops (including “The Three Secrets to Protecting Your Legacy” workshop) to learn more about safeguarding your family’s future.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

(00:00) Introduction: Why a Simple Will is Not Enough 

(01:19) Key term and function: Last Will and Testament

(03:30) Key term and function: Probate  

(04:32) Key term and function: Executor/Executrix

(06:03) Probate administration can be costly

(07:23) Avoiding probate does not avoid inheritance tax

(11:16) The truth about Wills and asset protection 

(12:25) Key term and function: Trust   

(13:34) A trust can avoid probate and protect assets before and after death

(14:44) Trusts offer more control and protection than a Will  

(16:26) Wills can jeopardize public benefits of disabled/incapacitated beneficiaries 

(18:09) Key term and function: Power of Attorney

(20:07) A simple Will simply cannot protect assets, especially complex assets

(21:37) A Will is better than nothing, but not much better

 

ABOUT BELLOMO & ASSOCIATES

Jeffrey R. Bellomo, the founder of Bellomo & Associates, is a licensed and certified elder law attorney with a master’s degree in taxation and a certificate in estate planning. He explains complex legal and financial topics in easy-to-understand language.


Bellomo & Associates is committed to providing education so that what happened to the Bellomo family doesn’t happen to your family. We conduct free workshops on estate planning, crisis planning, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Visit our website (https://bellomoassociates.com/) to learn more.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED

Bellomo & Associates workshops:https://bellomoassociates.com/workshops/

  • Life Care Planning
  • The Three Secrets of Estate Planning
  • Nuts & Bolts of Medicaid

For more information, call us at (717) 845-5390.

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WAYS TO WORK WITH JEFFREY BELLOMO

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